It was a move which had been rumored since the middle of last year, but today, Ducati finally confirmed that Davide Tardozzi will return to the Italian factory to manage the MotoGP team.

Tardozzi has a long and successful career with Ducati in World Superbikes, before leaving to run the BMW World Superbike program. After BMW pulled its factory program, Tardozzi was left sitting at home, leading to widespread speculation of a Ducati return.

Tardozzi’s signing reunites several key players from the most successful period in Ducati’s past, with Tardozzi working alongside Paolo Ciabatti. Tardozzi will be taking over the role vacated by Vitto Guareschi, who left to run the Team Sky VR46 Moto3 squad.

Below is the official press release from Ducati:

Davide Tardozzi returns to Ducati to coordinate Ducati Team organization and logistics in MotoGP

Tardozzi to be in charge of organization and logistics and will report to Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati Corse Sporting Director and MotoGP Programme Director

Former racer returns to Ducati after success as team manager in Superbike

Ducati Corse wishes to announce that it has reached an agreement with Davide Tardozzi, who returns to work again with the Borgo Panigale, Italy based manufacturer after a period of four years.

Tardozzi, born in Ravenna on January 30th 1959, will have an important role within the Ducati Team and will be in charge of the organization and logistics of the Italian squad in the MotoGP World Championship.

The former racer had a very successful career as Ducati team manager in Superbike, collaborating with champions of the calibre of Fogarty, Bayliss, Corser, Toseland and Hodgson, and contributing to the conquest of seven Riders’ titles in the production-based racing series.

Davide Tardozzi will report directly to Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati Corse Sporting Director and MotoGP Programme Director, and will begin his new role in the Ducati Team starting with the first MotoGP test at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia from February 4th to 6th.

Source: Ducati Corse

This article was originally published on MotoMatters, and is republished here on Asphalt & Rubber with permission by the author.